Exterior Accessories

Choices abound for those who wish to make a style statement with their SUV. Exterior accessories range from purely cosmetic to functional.

Lambo Doors — kits that make the vehicle's doors swing up like a Lamborghini's — are just for show and an extreme, expensive upgrade, starting around $1,200. Some owners go for a sleek look by shaving off door handles and other side-body protrusions, filling them in and adding a fresh coat of paint so that the sheet metal is smooth and uninterrupted the length of the vehicle. Special compressed air mechanisms are installed and controlled via a key fob to pop the doors open.

The G4 Challenge trim for the 2006 Land Rover LR3 features headlight guards and brush guards for serious off-roading.

Those are extreme examples. Most SUV owners aren't likely to hack away at door panels. Two of the most popular accessories for Lexus' GX 470 are a rear spoiler and chrome exhaust tip, says Jenne Julius, a sales executive in the Lexus corporate accessory department. Although these may seem like minor additions, Julius thinks they're so popular because they're not expensive, making them a cost-effective way to spice up the look of your SUV.

Roof racks with attachments for carrying gear, front protection bars (also called brush guards) and side steps are popular SUV accessories that serve a function in addition to altering the vehicle's look, says Larry Rosinski, a Land Rover spokesman. Parts designed to enhance off-road performance are also popular among Land Rover owners, including head- and taillight protectors, roof racks with high-powered lights attached and "roll-bars", which fit around the passenger compartment to protect it in the event of a rollover while traversing rough terrain.